Africa is experiencing a troubling surge in severe lived poverty, reversing hard-won gains from the past two decades, according to a new report.

The report, Decade of Destitution? Severe Lived Poverty is Surging in Many African Countries, published by Afrobarometer, a pan-African non-partisan research network, presents findings from surveys conducted across 39 African nations between October 2021 and June 2023.  

The results indicate that material deprivation is at its highest level since the organisation began tracking poverty trends in 1999.  

One in four Africans now reports experiencing conditions of severe lived poverty, a figure that has risen in 62% of surveyed countries since the previous round in 2019/2021. 

Wake-up call

“This is a wake-up call,” said Professor Robert Mattes of the University of Strathclyde, co-founder and senior adviser to Afrobarometer and co-author of the report with Rorisang Lekalake, senior analyst at Afrobarometer.  

“Despite decades of progress, we are witnessing a significant regression in poverty levels, which has profound implications for economic development, governance, and social stability across the continent.” 

The report found: 

• Widespread deprivation: 81% of respondents reported going without a cash income at least once in the previous year, while 66% lacked access to medicine, and 59% struggled to secure sufficient food. 
• Rising severe poverty: rates of frequent or constant deprivation of basic necessities have hit new highs, affecting nearly a quarter of the population. 
• Regional disparities: while some countries, such as Liberia and Morocco, have made progress in reducing severe lived poverty, others, including Nigeria, Namibia, and South Africa, have seen sharp increases. 
• Corruption linkages: initial analyses suggest that rising grassroots corruption, rather than declining political freedoms, may be contributing to worsening poverty conditions. 

Targeted interventions

The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to address economic stagnation, food insecurity and governance challenges. With global factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and geopolitical instability exacerbating these trends, the report highlights the need for policymakers to act swiftly to prevent further deterioration in living conditions. 

Professor Mattes, who is also adjunct professor at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town, said: “The resurgence of severe poverty cannot be ignored. Governments, civil society, and international stakeholders must prioritise poverty reduction policies and anti-corruption measures to safeguard Africa’s future. Now is hardly the time for a global power like the United States to slash its foreign aid programme.”